Fractured splint bone, 6 months on, help and reassurance again please

Cazza525

Cazza525

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We were doing well! Fractured splint at end of april this year. Boxrested for 4 months, then controlled exercise, no turnout as per vets advice. She was probably at her worst come 4 1/2 months 1/10th lame in trot , but vet told me that controlled exercise will strengthen.

My lovely mare then went for surgery to remove her granulosa theca cell tumour. This went well, back on boxrest when she came home and after a couple of weeks my vet came out to remove staples and said that after a couple of weeks, she can start a small amount of turnout daily, on her own in a small paddock. Bearing in mind, this mare has not had ANY turnout since April, I gave her a course of calmer so she wouldn't go mad. It is a small turnout area, with little grass, but a hedge to nibble on and a haynet tied up whilst I supervised. I started this last Monday, 20 minutes at first and slowly building up, always with me watching like a hawk! The worst she has done is a squeal and a small buck and trotted a handful of strides, so she really has been very good.

Now, come friday, she is looking lame on the turn again, on the splint fractured leg,she is 1/10ths lame in trot. I haven't buted her but rested her over the weekend and have rung my vet today. He is coming out on Wednesday to look over her. He did originally say that I could start riding her 6 weeks post op for the tumour removal, which is on Wednesday, but I'm not happy riding her to be honest without him seeing her.

Do you think I'm being over the top in my thinking? I just have worked so hard since April and feel very despondant tonight, I suppose I hope she can at least become pasture sound.

She is a home bred mare who I have inherited this year after my Mum passed away in July. She's really little else but a happy hacker at best anyway and has spent most of her life as a pampered pet at the bottom of Mum's garden!
 
My mare fractured her splint bone some years ago. She wasn't quite sound after box rest so I bit the bullet and had the split bone removed. She came completely sound. Might be worth a chat with your vet but I agree that if you think something isn't right it isn't worth starting ridden work.
 
If she is still intermittently lame 6 months on, I wouldn't be too happy to be honest.

Have the vets mentioned the possibility of removing the splint bone altogether as this can be done if they are persistently troublesome?

Has she had any recent x-rays on it to check how it is healing?
 
She hasn't had xrays for ages tbh, before I started controlled exercise. She just isn't quite right, not really horribly lame, but definately off! The lump on her splint is mahoosive as well, so I'm thinking resting on ligaments/tendons etc.

I really don't think I could put her through another op now. She's 20 and has had the year from hell anyway. She has no shoes on still and on no bute at all. I am concerned but am quite happy to keep her as a pet and forget about ever riding her again, but I do have a problem with not having a sound pasture pet!
 
It could be rubbing, particularly if it is very close to the knee?

I have had 2 x horses with splint operations and both were 100% afterwards but obviously understand you not wanting to put her through a GA at her age.

Maybe speak to the vet about more x-rays so at least you know what you are dealing with?
 
I'll have a word with vet on Wednesday, he really is very good and I trust him completely.
It would be nice to hear from others with horses with fractured splints who haven't had them removed that went on to have a full recovery. It really is most disheartening!
The fracture is on the outside of the front leg on the top 1/3rd, clean break, no displacement.
 
My pony is recovering from a broken splint bone so I am interested as well. His injury is on his hind leg.

He has had 10 weeks of box rest and been x rayed three times and wore a big bandage as well. He then was sound enough to start on the walker for a week and then started turnout and also continuing being on the walker as my vet said he needed to start walking to strengthen the leg and get the circulation going.

If all is well after 14 weeks he will be xrayed again and I can start riding again by which time he will be doing 40 minutes on the walker twice a day.

Unfortunately he has been going bonkers when turned out even in a paddock with loads of grass so is only have between 10-20 minutes turnout depending on how long it is before he realises he is free and starts jumping for joy, he is normally very very greedy for grass so I am surprised he is so interested in bouncing about.

It has taken longer to get to this stage than expected as orginally vet said 6 to 8 weeks of box rest when in reality it has been about 11.
 
One thing my vet said was sometimes when it knits together it grows fibre instead of bone. I imagine fibre is not as strong as bone so if that is the case it might be easier to get re-injured. The only way you can tell if it is healing with fibre not bone is to xray.

It is horrible seeing my pony on box rest for so long as he normally lives out.

I hope your horse makes a full recovery the prognosis is normally good.
 
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